Münster, Germany

Travel and Tourist Information

ABOVE: The Prinzipalmarkt in Münster's
Old Town during Advent.

By Durant Imboden

Münster is
one of Germany's most appealing smaller cities, with a 1,200-year history, a
town center that blends the medieval with modern, and the lively atmosphere that
comes from having a university with 39,000 students.

Münster is popular with Dutch and German tourists, but most
English-speaking travelers have barely heard of the city.

More curious yet,
Münster is ignored by guidebook publishers such as Frommer's and
Fodor's--despite the fact that Münster is only one of 13 cities that have been
admitted to Historic Highlights of Germany, a
consortium of cities chosen for their "special charm, architectural
brilliance and historic character."

Still, mass-market tourism's loss is your gain: You won't trip
over fellow Americans or British tourists when you enjoy the pleasures of this
attractive city near the borders of the Netherlands and the German Rhineland.
And enjoy it you will--ideally, for at least a few days, or even a week if you
can spare the time to browse through museums and explore the surrounding
countryside of Münsterland.

If you live outside the EU, a tax-free Renault or Peugeot tourist car lease can be cheaper than renting for visits of three weeks or longer. Minimum driver age is 18, there' s no upper age limit, and rates include insurance.